In 2016 Transport for London (TfL) consulted on using Shoreditch Park as a potential ventilation shaft and construction site for the proposed Crossrail 2 underground railway. The construction site would cover approximately one fifth of the western part of the park. Along with local residents, we campaigned against this proposal and hundreds of residents signed a petition to save our park.

We recognise that Crossrail 2 will greatly improve public transport capacity in Hackney, taking cars off our roads, and making our journeys to work quicker and safer. We also recognise that the design of the railway means that a ventilation shaft is required in this part of Hackney.

However, we do not think this should be at the expense of Hoxton's only significant open green space and strongly object to the proposals to use Shoreditch Park .

Shoreditch Park is the garden of thousands of people who live in flats next to and near our park. It is where our children play, we walk our dogs, play sport, take part in local events, and lie back and enjoy the summer sunshine. It is not a suitable site for a construction site - whether that be for one month, one year or - as Transport for London are proposing – three to six years.

Despite objections from local residents, local councillors and Hackney Council, TfL continues to list Shoreditch park as a site where it wants to build a ventilation shaft and use as a construction site for the proposed Crossrail 2 underground railway.

We urge TfL and Mayor of London in the strongest terms to ensure that the construction site and shaft required in north Hoxton to be put somewhere other than Shoreditch Park and remove it from the list of potential sites.

Supported by:

Mayor of Hackney Phil Glanville, Councillors Kam Adams, Feryal Demirci, Tom Ebbutt, Carole Williams, Yvonne Maxwell and Labour Candidate Steve Race, Hackney Councillors for Hoxton East and Shoreditch Ward and Hoxton West Ward with the community of Hoxton and beyond.